TL;DR
- The Armor of the Shadows is a 5-piece black plate set with strong stats and immunities
- Four pieces are found in hidden chests around Hernand — no boss required
- The Plate Helm of the Shadows needs you to defeat Beloth, the Darksworn (Chapter 6)
- If you want to skip that boss fight, the Frostcursed Plate Helm is a great visual substitute
- All pieces have Refinement 3 and can be upgraded with Abyss Cores
The Armor of the Shadows is probably the coolest-looking gear set in Crimson Desert. It’s a full black plate set that makes Kliff look like a proper dark knight. But it also backs up the style with real stats — solid defense, status immunities, and Abyss Gear slots that give you room to customize.
The good news? You don’t need to fight a single boss to get four out of five pieces. Most of them are tucked away in hidden chests around the northern areas of Hernand. You just need to know where to look and how to get inside.
The fifth piece — the helm — is tied to a boss fight that most players will hit in Chapter 6. We’ll cover that too, plus a solid alternative helm if you want to skip that fight entirely.
For a broader look at everything the game throws at you, check out our full Crimson Desert guide hub before you dive in.
Armor of the Shadows Set — Overview
Here’s a quick overview of all five pieces and where they are:
| Piece | Location |
|---|---|
| Plate Helm of the Shadows | Hoenmark Ruins — defeat Beloth, the Darksworn |
| Plate Armor of the Shadows (Chest) | Everfrost Watchtower, Argent Peaks |
| Plate Cloak of the Shadows | Hoenmark Ruins rooftop — hidden floor panel |
| Plate Gloves of the Shadows | Everfrost Cave, far east of Hernand |
| Plate Boots of the Shadows | Frostclaw Cave — use Stab at the waterfall |
All pieces have Refinement 3 at base level. The chest piece has 3 Abyss Gear Slots, making it one of the most flexible armor pieces in the game. It scales well from early game all the way into the endgame.
Make sure you’re stocked up on the best early items before heading into these cold areas. The north of Hernand can be rough if you’re not prepared.
Plate Helm of the Shadows (or the Frostcursed Plate Helm Alternative)
Stats:
- Defense: 8
- Refinement: 3
- Abyss Gear Slots: 1
- Special Effects: Glacial Domain, Daze Immunity
Location: Hoenmark Ruins — defeat Beloth, the Darksworn
The Plate Helm of the Shadows is the only piece locked behind a boss. You’ll face Beloth, the Darksworn, during the House Lanford Faction Quest called “Wraith in the Frost” in Hoenmark Ruins. This becomes available near the end of Chapter 6.
Be warned — Beloth is one of the toughest bosses in the game. He has wide slash attacks, heavy health, and the blizzard in the area will constantly chip your health. You need solid Ice Resistance gear to survive this fight. Check out our ice resistance and frost protection guide before going in. After defeating him, follow the quest marker to pick up the helm.
Don’t Want to Fight Beloth? Get the Frostcursed Plate Helm Instead
If you’re not ready for that boss fight yet, the Frostcursed Plate Helm looks almost identical and is a great stand-in.
Head to Chattering Rocks, far north of the “D” in “Demeniss” on the map.
- Inside Chattering Rocks, you’ll find a wall covered in vines.
- Burn the vines down using Blinding Flash (L1 + R1 + L1 on controller). Here’s a Blinding Flash guide if you’re unsure how to use it.
- Inside the room, open the Treasure Chest to get the Frostcursed Plate Helm.
Watch out — there are tough stone enemies here that need to be cleared first.
Plate Armor of the Shadows (Chest)
Stats:
- Defense: 10 (up to 13 with Abyss Cores)
- Refinement: 3
- Abyss Gear Slots: 3
- Abyss Gears: Petrification Immunity, Defense +3, Stamina Regen +2%
Location: Everfrost Watchtower, Argent Peaks — north of Hernand
This is the strongest piece in the set. Three Abyss Gear Slots give you a lot of room to build around it.
- Head north of “H” in Hernand on the map, past Hoenmark Ruins, to find the Everfrost Watchtower.
- On the south side of the area, look for a locked door built into a rock wall.
- There’s a lantern next to the door — interact with it to light it. The spikes will lower and the door will open.
- Inside the Treasure Chest is the Plate Armor of the Shadows.
Be careful of Bleed Bandits patrolling this area. They hit harder than they look. You can sneak past most of them if you stay focused on reaching the lantern.
Want to know how to get the most out of this chest piece? Our equipment reinforcement guide explains how to upgrade it properly.
Plate Cloak of the Shadows
Stats:
- Defense: 3
- Refinement: 3
- Special Effects: Fire Resistance Lv 7
Location: Hoenmark Ruins rooftop — north of “H” in Hernand
This one requires a bit of exploration inside a blizzard zone. The Hoenmark Ruins are constantly battered by cold weather, so make sure you have enough food or cold-resistant armor equipped. Flying enemies patrol this area too — it’s best to just avoid them and run.
- Head to the left side of the Hoenmark Ruins.
- On a rooftop, look for a snowy brick floor pattern that looks different from the rest.
- Crouch, then use Force Palm on the ground. This flips the floor panel and drops you into a hidden room below.
- Open the Treasure Chest inside for the Plate Cloak of the Shadows.
The Fire Resistance Lv 7 effect on this cloak is surprisingly useful. If you’re running into fire-based enemies or areas later in the game, this cloak will help a lot.
Plate Gloves of the Shadows
Stats:
- Attack: 18
- Defense: 3
- Refinement: 3
- Abyss Gear Slots: 2
- Abyss Gears: Climb Speed Multiplier +2%, Swim Speed Multiplier +2%
Location: Everfrost Cave — far east area of Hernand
These gloves are near the edge of the world map, so pay attention.
- Follow the river running underneath “Hernand” on the map and head east.
- Turn left and start climbing up the rocky mountain terrain.
- Look for a cave entrance built into the wall. It’s not clearly marked, so keep climbing along the edge until you spot it.
- Go inside and collect the gloves from the chest.
There’s no puzzle here — just exploration. The climb speed bonus on these gloves actually becomes useful in areas like the Spire of Insight, where you’re doing a lot of vertical movement.
Plate Boots of the Shadows
Stats:
- Attack: 16
- Defense: 7
- Refinement: 3
- Abyss Gear Slots: 2
- Abyss Gears: +10% Skill EXP Gain, Climb Speed Multiplier +2%
Location: Frostclaw Cave — southwest river, underneath “Hernand” on the map
These boots have a hidden entry method that isn’t obvious. You go through a waterfall.
- Follow the river west underneath “Hernand” on the map.
- You’ll reach a waterfall. Stand at the base of it.
- Use Stab (R1 + Triangle on PlayStation, right-click + strong attack on PC) to push through the waterfall.
- You’ll land inside Frostclaw Cave. Open the Treasure Chest to get the boots.
The +10% Skill EXP Gain on these boots is great if you’re still levelling up your skills. Pair them with our guide on how to get more skill points and you’ll level up faster across the board.
Tips Before You Go Hunting
A few things worth knowing before you head north:
- Bring warming food. The blizzard in Hoenmark Ruins will chip your health constantly. Learn how to cook the best healing food before making the trip.
- Get your stamina up. There’s a lot of climbing and running involved. Check out how to get max stamina so you don’t run out mid-chase.
- Avoid flying enemies at Hoenmark. They’re not worth the fight. Just run to your objective.
- Use a horse to travel fast. The areas are spread out. Our horse guide covers everything you need to know.
- Upgrade what you get. Once you have the set, slot Abyss Cores and reinforce the pieces. The chest piece especially scales well into the endgame.
If you haven’t upgraded your gear yet, here’s how to upgrade weapons and armor so you can get the most out of this set.
Is the Armor of the Shadows Set Worth It?
Yes. It’s one of the best early-to-mid game armor sets in Crimson Desert, and it doesn’t lose relevance as you push into the endgame. The combination of defense, status immunities, and Abyss Gear slots makes it flexible for different builds.
The chest piece alone with Petrification Immunity, Defense +3, and Stamina Regen is arguably the best single armor piece in the game for the area you’re in when you find it.
And the look? It’s genuinely one of the best aesthetics in the game. If you’re into customizing your appearance, check out how to dye armor and weapons — the dark plate looks even better with the right color choices.
Want to build on top of this set with the right accessories? Our accessories guide will help you round out your loadout.
Where to Get Crimson Desert
Ready to start your journey? Crimson Desert is available on the following platforms:
For a full breakdown of whether the game is worth your time and money, read our in-depth Crimson Desert review.
